Vampire Nightlife

"Well, you don't get to stay here and play hero—or more realistically, some dumb martyr." Philip frowned. "You didn't sound like you know what you're going to do. Okay, so there's that Dream Eater and then there's something else in the forest too. What are you going to do about it?"

"What Philip is trying to say is that maybe we can change your mind about going back to Nyx. We need allies, people who can change things and that's where we got to go." Anthony said, meaningfully looking back.

"That's…" Lukas sighed and looked at the forest monster he'd just killed. They were still at the entrance of the Dark Forest so that was just one monster, but who knew how many more they probably would have encountered?

"I hope you don't see it as running away or turning back on the people here." Matthew added. "We're doing something that will actually help."

Lukas' shoulders sagged for a moment. What everyone else said at the moment was true—he didn't know what he was about to do, and maybe going back to Nyx wasn't a bad idea.

If anything, it could be the best idea.

'They're not going to be anything like Drusilla, but the fact remains that these people have relics and also more people who can work with us in trying to get this situation under control.' Lukas thought to himself.

Once again, there was no sign of any answers from Drusilla, but Lukas was starting to accept it as he put away the dagger and nodded.

"Alright, let's just leave now and come back." Lukas said.

"Finally!" Philip said. "Thank the gods that you've agreed and saw reason at long last."

"I know, I know. Let's just go."

It didn't take too long for Lukas and the other three to return to the Dark Forest's entrance.

Matthew and Anthony glanced at him every now and then, looking as if they wanted to ask Lukas about something but held back.

Philip wanted to ask questions too, but knew that it wasn't the time.

It was clear that there was a lot of mysteries surrounding Lukas, far more than they expected, but what mattered right now was getting back to Nyx safely.

Questions about his mental state, this Drusilla, and corruption could happen at a later time.

"The van's right up there." Philip said, walking a bit faster to get to the van.

It was at that moment that the trees started closing in.

Or maybe they had been doing it all this time and the others just hadn't noticed until this particular moment as the entrance shrank.

Lukas realized it and his eyes widened. "Philip, no!"

"We can still make it—!" Philip shouted, now starting to run.

Lukas and Matthew both started to chase after him, but it was a crossbolt that flew and nearly hit Philip that made him pause enough for Matthew to tackle him into the ground.

Philip squirmed and thrashed in the young man's grip, trying to push Matthew away with no success. Philip slammed his fist down the ground and shouted.

"What gives?!"

"You weren't going to make it." Anthony said as he looked down at his weapon. "I couldn't have you going that way and seeing you sliced up by all of these trees."

"You don't know that!" Philip protested. "They're just trees! We can still climb out of it or something! Matthew, come on and give me a boost—actually, I know how to climb a tree and everything we'll be better once we do."

"Lukas said something about corruption. I wasn't going to risk it." Anthony said with a sigh before glancing at Lukas. "The entire's forest dangerous now, isn't it?"

Lukas stared at the trees that fused and melded all together. Instead of actually looking like trees, they had instead formed like some kind of skin instead and that made him want to swallow the feeling down.

One quick look only increased his worries.

[Corrupted Dark Forest]

The Dark Forest has been home to a multitude of flora and flora for over the past thousands of years, over the course of time it has both grown and shrank, experiencing a multitude of changes that make it for what it is today.

When the existence of ******** arrived and caused destruction throughout this plane of its existence… the Dark Forest served as its final resting place for a period of time that should have lasted until eternity

Corruption: 68% (active)

"It isn't good. Far from good, this is terrible and we're in a far bigger than mess than anything we've been in before. But surely, if this forest has existed this long then there's got to be some other forces in it right?" Lukas muttered and glanced around with determination. "Dryads? Nymphs?"

"What?" Anthony asked in confusion.

Philip, who had been thrashing and trying to get Matthew off from him, momentarily looked at Lukas and then tried to kick the younger Vampire off.

"Why am I the one getting pinned down when he's the one who's been acting irrationality all this time?" Philip complained. "All of these nonsense he's been spouting hasn't been helping us at all!"

Matthew, winced, because as much as he refused to acknowledge it—Philip somehow was a good voice of reason. Lukas on the otherhand was distracted and lost in his thoughts, muttering every now and then as if he was in another completely new world.

"Oi, Lukas." Philip shouted. "Give us some answers—"

"Can you cover his mouth for a moment? I'm trying to think." Lukas said.

Almost instantly the moment that Lukas said it, Matthew's hand clamped around Philip's mouth. It was almost instinctive at this point and Matthew suddenly withdrew his hand, realizing it now.

"This is…" Matthew muttered underneath his breath, saw Philip about to shout and then covered his mouth shut again. "It's better we stay silent, okay? We don't want to attract any more attention than necessary."

"… he really is like the other noble houses." Anthony muttered and shared a look with Matthew.